StarCraft 2 patch 4.2.0 aims to make co-op play more competitive

For those of us who play StarCraft 2, patch 4.2.0 has gone live and it’s got a lot to look over. A variety of interface tweaks and bug fixes for sure, quite a few changes to co-op play, and some changes to the editor as well. It’s a sizable patch all told. Some of the highlights include:

Zagara’s, Kerrigan’s, Abathur’s, and Amon’s Spore Crawlers now deals 15 damage, down from the 15 damage (+30 vs. biological) done before. This is a nerf to all Spore Crawlers, not just those four. It’s a pretty substantial change.

Armor and shield upgrades are just plain cheaper across the board in Co-op play, probably to encourage players to get them.

Parts Crates are now considered hostile enemy units so your units will automatically target them.

Fenix’s level 10 upgrade, Operational Efficiency, reduces the mineral costs of all production and tech structures by 50% in addition to its current functionality. This cost reduction applies to Gateways, Cybernetics Cores, Forges, Twilight Councils, Robotics Facilities, Robotics Bays, Stargates, and Fleet Beacons. This is just one of a host of changes to Fenix, the vast majority of which are buffs.

Han and Horner, as well as Karax, see similar across the board damage upgrades, cost decreases and other changes that on the whole look like overall buffs. Of special note is Han and Horner’s ATX Laser Battery, which replaces the ATA and ATS Lasers and has increased damage, up to 18.

Armor costs on units across Co-op saw a decrease. Uniformly these armor upgrades went from (150/150; 225/225; 300/300) to (100/100; 175/175; 250/250). Ground Carapace, Flying Carapace, Plasma Shield, Air Armor, Primal Carapace and Infantry Armor all changed in this fashion.

It definitely seems like an effort is being made to make Fenix, Han and Horner and Karax more compelling in Co-op play while reducing the pace of combat and making armor easier to upgrade, helping to prolong the length of Co-op fights in general. There’s also an absolute ton of bug fixes, from typos and score irregularities to Alarak being able to attack before you’d finished spawning and his abilities having a global range.

Han & Horner’s Level 8 ability, His and Her Supply, now increases the HP of their Supply Depots from 400 to 800.

Salvage bonuses no longer affect certain “free” units such as Nova’s Railgun Turrets (summoned from Ravens), Infested Civilians, Volatile Infested, and Infested Troopers (summoned from Bunkers). Salvage will still affect all of Zagara’s Banelings and Infested Marines (summoned from Barracks).

Stronger Death Chance Mastery bonus increased from 1% per point to 1.5% per point. Max bonuses increased from 30% to 60%.

Double Salvage Chance Mastery bonuses increased from 1% per point to 2% per point. Max bonuses increased from 30% to 60%.

Horner Unit Life Regeneration Mastery replaced with Strike Fighter Area of Effect Radius Mastery. The Strike Fighter Area of Effect Mastery increases both the radius of the Strike Fighter’s base attack and the radius of its Napalm Payload Effect by 1% per point up to a total of 30%.

Karax

Extended Thermal Lance research cost decreased from 150/150 to 100/100.

Fire Beam research cost decreased from 200/200 to 150/150.

Fire Beam damage over time increased from 100 damage over 5 seconds to 150 damage over 5 seconds.